45 Drinks to Consider Ordering if You Panic Every Time You Get Up to the Bar (2024)

If you're reading this, chances are you're still searching for a go-to alcoholic beverage. And that's fine! It takes time! Maybe you just turned 21 and can finally (legally!) buy yourself a drink for the first time. Or, maybe you have a big date coming up and want to look profesh when you inevitably get a nightcap. No matter why you're here, welcome. I'm certain there's a co*cktail you'll love on this list.

That's because I rounded up 45(!) of the best Adult Beverages in existence, below, so you can get prepared before you get to bar hopping. There's something for vodka drinkers, tequila lovers (yes, that might be you!), and people who prefer things on the lighter side. I even chatted with award-winning mixologist Kenta Goto, owner of Bar Goto and Bar Goto Niban in New York City, to confirm that he would back everything on the list. "All of the drinks mentioned here are classic co*cktails, and most bartenders should know how to make them well," Goto says. "These classics never go out of style, and more importantly, they are delicious." We would never steer you wrong, would we?!

So, whether you’re looking for something sweet, fruity, or downright boozy, scroll down to find the best drinks to order at a bar. And I probably don't need to say it, but I will anyway...always drink responsibly!

Perhaps no co*cktail is as aesthetically pleasing as the classic martini. I mean...the frosty glass! The olive pick! The standard martini is a mix of gin and vermouth—shaken or stirred—with an olive or lemon twist. Some people trade the gin for vodka, and others spice things up and incorporate some additional ingredients/flavors. My personal favorite? The espresso martini, which adds espresso shots and coffee liqueur to the recipe.

Just so you don't get it twisted, I'm not referring to a frozen daiquiri situation here. "A classic daiquiri is made with rum, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. It’s very easy to drink," says Goto, adding that it's a go-to for off-duty bartenders when they hit up a bar.

You’ve gotta order this one with confidence, friends. Tell the bartender you want a sex on the beach and you don’t care who knows it! But actually, it’s fruity, refreshing, and perfectly sweet thanks to a combination of vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and orange juice. It’s a classic at a beach bar, but you can sip it anywhere.

Okay, who is she?! That’s what everyone will be saying when they lay eyes on you as you sip one of the sexiest co*cktails of them all. It only requires three ingredients—Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth—which blend into a reddish-orange drink. If the bartender serves it up with an orange peel twist and one big ice cube, you know you’re at a nice place.

It might not be an antibiotic, but this penicillin sure can leave you feeling good. (Or, you know, really bad, if you drink too many, lol.) It’s a little bit smokey thanks to scotch, a little bit sweet thanks to honey, and a little bit spicy thanks to ginger. It'll leave you feeling all warm inside, but you can drink it no matter the temperature outside.

I don't even need to describe an Aperol Spritz (it's 2024, after all), but I am here to tell you that it's one of many ways in which you can prepare a Spritz. "In its classic form, a Spritz is a co*cktail made with an Italian aperitivo (like Aperol), sparkling wine, and sparkling water, though there are now many variations on that recipe," Goto says. Basically, it's the perfect brunch or happy hour starter.

This creamy, indulgent co*cktail has many of the same ingredients as an espresso martini (coffee liqueur, cream, and vodka, to be exact), but skips the espresso shot altogether. So, if you’re looking for something that hits similar but doesn’t have the caffeine or strong coffee flavor, you know what to ask the bartender for.

Did you really think we’d tell you what to order at a bar and not include a classic Cosmo? Of course not. A typical Cosmopolitan is made with vodka, an orange-flavored liqueur called triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice. It might be a little strong for beginner drinkers, but you can def work your way up to this one.

Egg whites in a co*cktail might not seem yummy, but trust me, it works. It’s one of the main ingredients in a whiskey sour, along with whiskey (duh), lemon juice, and simple syrup. If you go somewhere fancy, they’ll likely squeeze the lemons and crack the eggs right in front of you. If you’re somewhere a little divey, they’ll probably just mix a shot of whiskey with a pre-made sour mix. Both are good, tbh!

At a jazz club (or want to be)? Consider taking a sip of a sidecar, aka a cognac-forward co*cktail commonly associated with the Jazz Age. Often served in a couple or martini glass, it looks swanky and goes down smooth. Fingers crossed your bartender sugars your rim and garnishes with a lemon twist, too.

If you didn’t already see this drink on Emily in Paris (remember when Emily tried to get Champére into the canned co*cktail business?), allow me to introduce you. The Kir Royale is a pink co*cktail that requires just two ingredients: sparkling wine and crème de cassis, a tart red liqueur made from blackcurrants. It’s fruity, fizzy, and f*cking delicious. (Just don’t drink too many if bubbles give you a headache!)

Idk about you, but I feel classy just saying this one. "A French 75 is made with gin, lemon, simple syrup, and topped with champagne," says Goto. "It's a great co*cktail for when you feel like celebrating, but also good to order on any night out."

Invented in New Orleans in the early 1800s, the sazerac has been tickling fancies for centuries now. It’s definitely strong—think: whiskey, bitters, and absinthe—but it’s also delicious. I mean, there’s gotta be a reason it’s stuck around for so long, right?

Nothing screams summer quite like a mojito! The basic recipe is rum, simple syrup, lime juice, club soda, and mint, but other fruits are often added to the mix, like pineapple, mango, strawberry, or cucumber.

An all-inclusive resort classic, the piña colada is for those who (a) love slushies, (b) don’t hate coconut, and (c) want their alcoholic beverages to taste like anything but alcohol. The liquor in this bad boy is rum, but it’s pretty much drowned out by cream of coconut and pineapple juice, all blended up with ice and garnished with a tropical fruit or two.

This boozy baby is def meant to be sipped, not chugged. "An Old Fashioned is made with either bourbon or rye whiskey, angostura bitters (essentially a mix of herbs and spices dissolved in alcohol), and a touch of sugar," Goto says. "It's a classic that is definitely worth trying."

You don’t have to be a secret agent to sip on a Vesper, but the co*cktail is a favorite of James Bond, according to the book "Casino Royale." It’s a blend of vodka, gin, and Lillet (a French aperitif wine), so be warned: it’s pretty damn strong. But if it’s good enough for 007, it’s good enough for me.

Perhaps the most silent but deadly on this list, a Long Island Iced Tea is a sweet combo of so many different liquors it’s almost concerning. Believe it or not, there’s actually no iced tea in a Long Island iced tea—it’s vodka, tequila, rum, triple sec, gin, and a little bit of co*ke. And somehow, it tastes really freakin’ delicious. In my world, you order a LIIT if you wanna get, well, lit. Use that information as you wish.

If you've never had a Paloma, get thyself to a bar ASAP. "It's made with tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda," explains Goto. And if you can find a bar serving it up with fresh grapefruit juice, even better.

Wanna order something slightly less college-y than a vodka cran? Try a vodka gimlet. "It's made with vodka, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup, though you can also make it with gin," says Goto. "It's like a daiquiri, but the rum is replaced with vodka".